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Upcoming Events

Hi-Desert Nature Museum is pleased to announce a new three-part botany series on cacti and succulents. The first session in the series is a presentation from Robin Kobaly titled, “How to Hug a Cactus: Embracing the Cacti and Succulents of the Morongo Basin.” This presentation is will be held on Saturday, February 15, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. in the Hi-Desert Nature Museum’s Natural History room.

This presentation is free to the public with no registration required, but donations are greatly appreciated and help fund educational programming.

Hi-Desert Nature Museum is offering community members the opportunity to join us for a hands-on workshop designing succulent models while learning the basics about succulents. This workshop is designed for participants ages 16+.

The workshop costs $10 to attend, and preregistration is required. Registration is available online on our website (Events>Event Calendar) or in person at the Hi-Desert Nature Museum.

What's On Display

Wondrous West:
Art, Tourism, and National Pride
1848-1942

On Display January 4, 2025 to March 15, 2025

Hi-Desert Nature Museum is pleased to present Wondrous West: Art, Tourism, and National Pride. This temporary exhibit displays the early visual imagery published in government reports, travel books, railroad brochures, souvenir albums, illustrated newspapers and magazines, postcards, art prints, and travel bureau materials.

Curated by collector Lee Silliman, many of these images were part of the “See American First” campaign, encouraging Americans to travel West. Some of the stunning imagery includes locations such as the Petrified National Forest, Grand Canyon National Park, Yosemite National Park, Mount Shasta, Zion National Park, Yellowstone National Park, and many more.

History of the Hi-Desert Nature Museum: 60th Anniversary Spotlight

On display until April 30, 2025, this spotlight exhibit features archival materials and photographs detailing the opening of the Hi-Desert Nature Museum, its founders and early supporters, lasting exhibits and displays, and major events in the history of the museum.

“From the Vault” is a rotating display in the exhibit which highlights collection items from early museum contributors. Currently on display are items from the Elsinore Machris Collection, including Victorian pieces from the late 1800s, such as miniature portraits and perfume bottles.

Be sure to stop in and see this spotlight exhibit before it closes on April 30, 2025.

Our Giant Rock: A Touchstone in the Mojave

Our Giant Rock: A Touchstone is an interactive touchscreen exhibit that encourages visitors to discover and explore the nuances that make Giant Rock a unique and cherished Morongo Basin landmark. Giant Rock is most notoriously known for the ‘giant’ personalities who lived near and even under it. However, it has also served as an intermediary for certain stories and events. The exhibit provides a series of interpretive narratives explaining these nuances while incorporating some never-before-seen images, documents, publications, and videos which help illustrate Giant Rock’s history.

This exhibit is made possible with support from California Humanities, a non-profit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities.